Some general tips are:

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1. Position mother comfortably with back support, using pillows to support her arms and infant.

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2. Position infant close to the mother, with hips flexed to prevent the infant from having to turn head to reach breast. The mouth and nose should be facing mother's nipple.

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3. Infant's body should be so close that the infant is touching the mother. Have mother support her breast so infant's chin in not pressing on breast.

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4. Encourage infant to open mouth wide by tapping nipple on the infant's upper lip. Infant should be in a sniffing position, looking up towards mother's nipple.

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5. When infant opens mouth wide, the mother should hug infant's back by pushing infant's shoulder blades (not head) towards her, using her palm of hand. This allows for the infant to naturally lead with chin touching breast first. The chin is what massages the breast. Mother's hand will act as a “second neck” for the infant.

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6. If the mother is feeling pain or pinching at the nipple, detach infant gently and try again.​​

 

*These steps may need to be repeated frequently during the early weeks. The mother and infant will need to find and adjust techniques that works for them.